Multi‐Pathway Excited State Relaxation of Adenine Oligomers in Aqueous Solution: A Joint Theoretical and Experimental Study

The singlet excited states of adenine oligomers, model systems widely used for the understanding of the interaction of ultraviolet radiation with DNA, are investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy and time‐dependent (TD) DFT calculations. Fluorescence decays, fluorescence anisotropy decays, and time‐resolved fluorescence spectra are recorded from the femtosecond to the nanosecond timescales for single strand (dA)₂₀ in aqueous solution. These experimental observations and, in particular, the comparison of the fluorescence behavior upon UVC and UVA excitation allow the identification of various types of electronic transitions with different energy and polarization. Calculations performed for up to five stacked 9‐methyladenines, taking into account the solvent, show that different excited states are responsible for the absorption in the UVC and UVA spectral domains. Independently of the number of bases, bright excitons may evolve toward two types of excited dimers having π–π* or charge‐transfer character, each one distinguished by its own geometry and spectroscopic signature. According to the picture arising from the joint experimental and theoretical investigation, UVC‐induced fluorescence contains contribution from 1) exciton states with a different degree of localization, decaying within a few ps, 2) “neutral” excited dimers decaying on the sub‐nanosecond timescale, being the dominant species, and 3) charge‐transfer states decaying on the nanosecond timescale. The majority of the photons emitted upon UVA excitation are related to charge‐transfer states.     

Membrane characterization and solute diffusion in porous composite nanocellulose membranes for hemodialysis

The membrane and solute diffusion properties of Cladophora cellulose and polypyrrole (PPy) functionalized Cladophora cellulose were analyzed to investigate the feasibility of using electroactive membranes in hemodialysis. The membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, ζ-potentiometry, He-pycnometry, N₂ gas adsorption, and Hg porosimetry. The diffusion properties across the studied membranes for three model uremic toxins, i.e. creatinine, vitamin B12 and bovine serum albumin, were also analyzed. The characterization work revealed that the studied membranes present an open structure of weakly negatively charged nanofibers with an average pore size of 21 and 53 nm for pristine cellulose and PPy-Cladophora cellulose, respectively. The results showed that the diffusion of uremic toxins across the PPy-Cladophora cellulose membrane was faster than through pure cellulose membrane, which was related to the higher porosity and larger average pore size of the former. Since it was found that the average pore size of the membranes was larger than the hydrodynamic radius of the studied model solutes, it was concluded that these types of membranes are favorable to expand the Mw spectrum of uremic toxins to also include conditions associated with accumulation of large pathologic proteins during hemodialysis. The large average pore size of the composite membrane could also be exploited to ensure high-fluxes of solutes through the membrane while simultaneously extracting ions by an externally applied electric current.     

A semiempirical MO study of the electronic structure and excited states of the Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)Iron(II) and Tris(glyoxal-Bis-N-methylimine)iron(II)Ions

A semi-empirical SCF-MO method, the PEEL method, has been applied in an investigation of the electronic structure and excited states of two iron compounds, [Fe(II)-(GMI)₃]⁺⁺ and [Fe(II)-(bipy)₃]⁺⁺.The electronic absorption spectra have been recorded. The calculations show that it is necessary to account for the trigonal distortion and the covalency in order to explain these spectra quantitatively. Mössbauer measurements have also been performed. The calculated electronic population of the iron is in accord with Mössbauer isomer shift data, indicating that a realistic electron distribution has been obtained by the PEEL method.

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Zusammenfassung Eine semiempirische SCF-MO-Methode, die PEEL-Methode, wurde zur Untersuchung der Elektronenstruktur sowie von angeregten Zuständen der beiden Eisenverbindungen [Fe(II)-(GMI)₃]⁺⁺ und [Fe(II)-(bipy)₃]⁺⁺ angewendet.Die elektronischen Absorptionsspektren wurden aufgenommen. Die Berechnungen zeigen, daß die trigonale Verzerrung und die Kovalenz berücksichtigt werden müssen, um die Spektren quantitativ zu erklären. Mössbauer-Messungen wurden ebenfalls durchgeführt. Die berechnete Elektronenverteilung am Eisenatom ist in Übereinstimmung mit den Daten der Isomerenverschiebung der Mössbauer-Messungen, wodurch gezeigt wird, daß mit der PEEL-Methode eine realistische Elektronen-Verteilung erhalten wurde.

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Résumé Une méthode SCF-MO semi-empirique, la méthode PEEL, a été appliquée à une étude de la structure électronique et des états excités de deux composés ferreux: [Fe(II)-(bipy)₃]⁺⁺ et [Fe(II)-(GMI)₃]⁺⁺. Les spectres d'absorption électronique ont été enregistrés. Les calculs montrent qu'il est nécessaire de rendre compte de la distorsion trigonale et de la covalence pour expliquer ces spectres quantitativement.Des mesures de l'effet Mössbauer ont aussi été effectuées. La population électronique calculée du fer est en bon accord avec les données sur le déplacement isomérique de Mössbauer, ce qui indique que la méthode PEEL fournit une distribution électronique réaliste.

     

Khachiyan's linear programming algorithm

L. G. Khachiyan's polynomial time algorithm for determining whether a system of linear inequalities is satisfiable is presented together with a proof of its validity. The algorithm can be used to solve linear programs in polynomial time.     

High resolution laser fluorescence spectroscopy in the deep blue spectral region

High-resolution laser spectroscopy measurements have been performed in the wavelength region around 4000 Å using a pulsed dye laser acting on a collimated atomic beam. Extra-cavity Fabry-Pérot filtering was used to achieve a narrow line-width of the laser light. Isotope shifts were measured in the 4216 Å and 4202 Å rubidium lines with the result Δσ(87, 85)=124.3(4)MHz, andΔσ(87, 85) = 124.2(7)MHz, respectively, and in the 3988 Å ytterbium line with the resultδσ(176, 174)=?509(4)MHz, Δσ(174, 172)=?530(4) MHz.     

Polarization contributions to the spin dependence of the effective interaction in neutron matter

We calculate the modification of the effective interaction of particles on the Fermi surface due to polarization contributions, with particular attention to spin-dependent forces. In addition to the standard spin-spin, tensor, and spin-orbit forces, spin nonconserving effective interactions are induced by screening in the particle-hole channels. Furthermore, a novel long-wavelength tensor force is generated. We compute the polarization contributions to second order in the low-momentum interaction V(low k) and find that the medium-induced spin-orbit interaction leads to a reduction of the 3P2 pairing gap for neutrons in the interior of neutron stars.